Kevian
New Member
Kevian, lovely macros in your album! The tag "First miserable attempt" is out of place imo
Thank you Titus bhai....I wish you will not take back your appreciation after you take a closer look at the picture.
The essence of photography
- Thread starter ajay124
- Start date
Thank you Titus bhai....I wish you will not take back your appreciation after you take a closer look at the picture.
actually Ajay, for anything above 150mm effective i would also recommend a VR lens. it makes a huge difference even with a monopod. My current..soon to be ex -olympus body has in camera Stabilization (i had a E500 without it also) and the VR makes a difference between a blurred and a clear shot even with steady hands on long zooms. you do lose out on image resolution as with VR, the size of the image is slightly smaller.
the 20K is worth it as when/if you do sell it you do make up for it..
BTW the D600 is launched
2100USD.. 1.1Lakhs or morehttp://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth...ssional-and-enthusiast?BI=9010&kw=D600Article
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ajay124
Well-Known Member
Earlier I used to read every little titbit about D600 several times. But I lost interest ever since I realized that it was going to be a D7000 with a full frame sensor. My dream kit is inching closer towards its destination. I know exactly what I want. Missing links are marked in bold.
D700+14-24mm AFS f/2.8 G ED + AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 G ED + 50mm 1.8D + 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D ED + 105mm 2.8 D Micro.
I am prepared to sell part, or all of my hifi system, in order to buy this stuff. At the moment photography has demolished all the other pursuits I used to indulge in earlier!
But I did listen to David Oistrakh playing a Beethoven vlolin concerto in the evening today. A big, metaphorical tear escaped from my eyes. The perfection of Beethoven and Oistrakh belongs to another world. A divine world untouched by the tidal wave of mediocrity and mendacity which is drowning our brave new world.
D700+14-24mm AFS f/2.8 G ED + AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 G ED + 50mm 1.8D + 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D ED + 105mm 2.8 D Micro.
I am prepared to sell part, or all of my hifi system, in order to buy this stuff. At the moment photography has demolished all the other pursuits I used to indulge in earlier!
But I did listen to David Oistrakh playing a Beethoven vlolin concerto in the evening today. A big, metaphorical tear escaped from my eyes. The perfection of Beethoven and Oistrakh belongs to another world. A divine world untouched by the tidal wave of mediocrity and mendacity which is drowning our brave new world.
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have been reading a lot Nikon stuff off late. apparently the 24-70 could be the last on your list...the 50 1.4 is enough to cover the entire range as long as you are ok to move around .
agree on the D600. it is just a FF version of the 7000..and the 7000 might just be the better value out here
agree on the D600. it is just a FF version of the 7000..and the 7000 might just be the better value out here
ajay124
Well-Known Member
arj
Between a D7000 body for 45K and a D600 body for 100K, I would choose a D7000 and spend the rest of the money on lenses.
I view wireless connectivity on a camera as a distraction rather than an attraction. Amateur photography is a lonely pursuit. One should shoot pictures for one's personal satisfaction rather than for an audience.
Ditto for cinema. I find films which blatantly try to please an audience boring, stupid and meaningless. The only films I can sit through are idiosyncratic films where the director has first and foremost made the film for his personal pleasure (Even cinema sans stars is an expensive business. Such films can't be made without a producer who is either a fool or a cinema fanatic)
An artist who brings himself/herself down to the level of the audience is not an artiste. He/she is an entertainer. A ragged court jester concocting low brow burlesque for royalty and commoners alike.
Between a D7000 body for 45K and a D600 body for 100K, I would choose a D7000 and spend the rest of the money on lenses.
I view wireless connectivity on a camera as a distraction rather than an attraction. Amateur photography is a lonely pursuit. One should shoot pictures for one's personal satisfaction rather than for an audience.
Ditto for cinema. I find films which blatantly try to please an audience boring, stupid and meaningless. The only films I can sit through are idiosyncratic films where the director has first and foremost made the film for his personal pleasure (Even cinema sans stars is an expensive business. Such films can't be made without a producer who is either a fool or a cinema fanatic
) An artist who brings himself/herself down to the level of the audience is not an artiste. He/she is an entertainer. A ragged court jester concocting low brow burlesque for royalty and commoners alike.
josephjohnt
Active Member
Nikon India has listed the price of a D600. Its slightly higher than US price.
INR 163,950 (with AF-S 24-85mm VR Kit Lens)
INR 135,950 (Body only)
(Maximum Retail Price)
INR 163,950 (with AF-S 24-85mm VR Kit Lens)
INR 135,950 (Body only)
(Maximum Retail Price)
Ditto for cinema. I find films which blatantly try to please an audience boring, stupid and meaningless. The only films I can sit through are idiosyncratic films where the director has first and foremost made the film for his personal pleasure (Even cinema sans stars is an expensive business. Such films can't be made without a producer who is either a fool or a cinema fanatic
An artist who brings himself/herself down to the level of the audience is not an artiste. He/she is an entertainer. A ragged court jester concocting low brow burlesque for royalty and commoners alike.
So true. its is the same for News itself these days ! more of Views than News.
I have stopped the newspaper and dont watch TV. have subscribed to the Economist which gives me all the pertinent news and read headlines online
But the Wireless connectivity is something I rather liked although not at the expense of Image Quality.
I did get the D700 and the 85 1.8.. it is a joy to click the shutter..the sound has a certain "Magnificance" about it and the instant results very heartening.
Haveto get use to the buttons and settings though . Am in paris the next week and the best place to try it out.
ajay124
Well-Known Member
arj
My thumb rules (which I follow most of the time, but not all the time) for shooting in decent light with the 85mm and 50mm primes:
85mm 1.8D on FX. Perfect for isolating and shooting humans, animals, birds, plants and objects.
f/2.8. ISO 200-400. Minimum shutter speed (hand held) 1/250 s, (monopod) 1/125 s, (tripod) 1/60 s. Soft images from f/1.8-less than f/2.8. Soft images at slower shutter speeds. I would prefer shooing at the fastest shutter speed I could get away with, without boosting ISO beyond 800 on D700. Half body/head shots/nature with shallow DOF
f/5.6. ISO 5.6. ISO 200-800. Minimum shutter speeds, same as above. Full body/group/ street scenes/nature with medium DOF. Sharpest aperture. Knock out pics!
f/8-11. ISO 200-1600. Minimum shutter speeds, same as above. Landscapes/ nature with greater DOF
50mm 1.8D. Perfect for EVERYTHING, except wide angle shots.
f/2.8. ISO 200-400. Minmum shutter speed (hand held) 1/60 s, monopod 1/30 s, tripod 1/8 s. Full body/group/ street scenes/nature with medium DOF
f/5.6. ISO 200-800. Minimum shutter speeds same as above. Full body/group/ street scenes/nature with medium DOF. Sharpest aperture. Knock out pics!
f/8-11. ISO 200-1600. Shutter speeds same as above. Landscapes/nature/ group with greater DOF.
Normally I venture out with only one lens and one kind of photography in mind. Gradually the lens starts becoming second nature. A third, all seeing eye, which reveals the world in sharp relief. Carrying more than one lens/changing lenses frequently/indulging in various kinds of photography during one shoot, destroys my concentration and reduces the happiness I get from photography.
* I have been to Paris several times. The most beautiful city I have ever visited. Vienna, Kyoto, Barcelona and Helsinki would be second, third, fourth and fifth. If I go to any of these places in the future, I would carry a D700+monopod+50mm 1.8D+18-35 or 17-35 or 14-24.
My thumb rules (which I follow most of the time, but not all the time) for shooting in decent light with the 85mm and 50mm primes:
85mm 1.8D on FX. Perfect for isolating and shooting humans, animals, birds, plants and objects.
f/2.8. ISO 200-400. Minimum shutter speed (hand held) 1/250 s, (monopod) 1/125 s, (tripod) 1/60 s. Soft images from f/1.8-less than f/2.8. Soft images at slower shutter speeds. I would prefer shooing at the fastest shutter speed I could get away with, without boosting ISO beyond 800 on D700. Half body/head shots/nature with shallow DOF
f/5.6. ISO 5.6. ISO 200-800. Minimum shutter speeds, same as above. Full body/group/ street scenes/nature with medium DOF. Sharpest aperture. Knock out pics!
f/8-11. ISO 200-1600. Minimum shutter speeds, same as above. Landscapes/ nature with greater DOF
50mm 1.8D. Perfect for EVERYTHING, except wide angle shots.
f/2.8. ISO 200-400. Minmum shutter speed (hand held) 1/60 s, monopod 1/30 s, tripod 1/8 s. Full body/group/ street scenes/nature with medium DOF
f/5.6. ISO 200-800. Minimum shutter speeds same as above. Full body/group/ street scenes/nature with medium DOF. Sharpest aperture. Knock out pics!
f/8-11. ISO 200-1600. Shutter speeds same as above. Landscapes/nature/ group with greater DOF.
Normally I venture out with only one lens and one kind of photography in mind. Gradually the lens starts becoming second nature. A third, all seeing eye, which reveals the world in sharp relief. Carrying more than one lens/changing lenses frequently/indulging in various kinds of photography during one shoot, destroys my concentration and reduces the happiness I get from photography.
* I have been to Paris several times. The most beautiful city I have ever visited. Vienna, Kyoto, Barcelona and Helsinki would be second, third, fourth and fifth. If I go to any of these places in the future, I would carry a D700+monopod+50mm 1.8D+18-35 or 17-35 or 14-24.
great ..thanks ajay..Ths is very helpful. i very rarely ventured anything other than the P and the Aperture mode
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ajay124
Well-Known Member
Yesterday morning we drove up the NH22 highway towards Shimla. Overcast skies hinting at rain which never came. Misty mountains. Peace and stillness. Temporary escape from the ratrace/ratlife of the cities. Stopped for lunch at the popular Giani Da Dhaba. Personally I detest all dhaba food. I find it to be a complete waste of money. But since we were accompanied by my aunt and uncle, who were visiting from abroad, I thought it was a good idea to give them a taste of local ambience and food. Turned out to be a bad idea :sad: as the dal/paneer/rotis we had merely reinforced my opinion about the food served by most popular dhabas. Once in a while one does come across a nondescript looking roadside eatery serving good food. But these days when I can't have home food, I prefer eating at Macdonald's or KFC. The food may be as calorie inducing and flavorless as dhaba/restaurant food, but if one considers the hygiene and value for money factor, then MacD's and KFC comfortably outgun most Indian eateries.
I took along my favorite photography tools. D700+50mm 1.8D+Manfrotto 679B. Posted a few pics on my flick-stream:
T#2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
I took along my favorite photography tools. D700+50mm 1.8D+Manfrotto 679B. Posted a few pics on my flick-stream:
T#2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
ajay124
Well-Known Member
An apple seller asked me to advertise his outlet on my 'website'. As a fee I was offered a juicy red apple. Like Adam, I couldn't resist the temptation!
Price: Rs. 100 (2$) per kg.
Location: NH 22, India, between Jabli and Dharampur.
Review: The freshest, juiciest, tastiest apples I have had in the last two decades.
fresh from kinnaur | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Price: Rs. 100 (2$) per kg.
Location: NH 22, India, between Jabli and Dharampur.
Review: The freshest, juiciest, tastiest apples I have had in the last two decades.
fresh from kinnaur | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Shivam
Well-Known Member
great ..thanks ajay..Ths is very helpful. i very rarely ventured anything other than the P and the Aperture mode
I never use P mode. P mode can generate the shutter and aperture based on the surroundings and perceived motion but will never generate them based on your requirements.
e.g - You want to photograph a monument with crowds of people in front of it. P mode will give you something like f/5.6 at 1/125. You might be interested in showing the blurs of people and might need something like 1/4 of a shutter speed on a tripod.
Aperture priority and Shutter Priority are what I usually use. In my opinion Evaluative metering is there to help (as is autofocus). If you understand it you can direct your energy to composing a great shot and capturing it as you want it to be rather than spending time with nuances (This is where me and ajay differ a bit).
Manual mode is great when there are elements that can and will through the evaluative metering away.
This is one reason why I ask each and every photographer to first understand how the metering works and then understand and see the limitations of it.
Form your own thumb rules. They may be different for you !
ajay124
Well-Known Member
Action sequence before I take a pic:
Choose the aperture according to the subject and natural light available-choose the fastest shutter speed, at the lowest ISO, which the lighting conditions will allow-choose an exposure compensation which maximizes the dynamic range between the shadow and highlight zones. These actions have become second nature. I can perform them in seconds without breaking into a sweat. White balance at 'auto' and picture control at 'neutral' is a constant. I opt for low/medium/high D-lighting, when the light is too harsh and bright. For portraits I normally use Matrix (evaluative) metering. Depending on the skin tones of the subject, I under or over expose by one stop.
For me the actual fretting and fuming happens, when I choose the metering for a landscape or nature shot. Matrix metering usually gives the most acceptable results. But 'acceptable' seldom translates into great or extraordinary. Spot metering provides a far smaller percentage of acceptable pictures. But once in a while, through accident or design, you get a result that is truly spectacular. For nature shots, like the one below, I have begun opting for center weighted metering:
pure planet | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Monsoons are nature's gift to photography. It is relatively easy to shoot decent pictures of soft blue skies with white billowing clouds or dark grey skies with dramatic, ominous clouds. I'll be sorry to bid farewell to the rains. But I'll be looking forward to capturing the cold, dark, dreary winter light, which we experience in Chandigarh from late November to early February.
I look at life merely in terms of what light the coming season will bring. I don't have the slightest interest left in the hurly-burlies of the human race. Banishing newspapers and television from my imagination has been the most exhilarating and liberating experience of the life I have led in the 21st century.
Choose the aperture according to the subject and natural light available-choose the fastest shutter speed, at the lowest ISO, which the lighting conditions will allow-choose an exposure compensation which maximizes the dynamic range between the shadow and highlight zones. These actions have become second nature. I can perform them in seconds without breaking into a sweat. White balance at 'auto' and picture control at 'neutral' is a constant. I opt for low/medium/high D-lighting, when the light is too harsh and bright. For portraits I normally use Matrix (evaluative) metering. Depending on the skin tones of the subject, I under or over expose by one stop.
For me the actual fretting and fuming happens, when I choose the metering for a landscape or nature shot. Matrix metering usually gives the most acceptable results. But 'acceptable' seldom translates into great or extraordinary. Spot metering provides a far smaller percentage of acceptable pictures. But once in a while, through accident or design, you get a result that is truly spectacular. For nature shots, like the one below, I have begun opting for center weighted metering:
pure planet | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Monsoons are nature's gift to photography. It is relatively easy to shoot decent pictures of soft blue skies with white billowing clouds or dark grey skies with dramatic, ominous clouds. I'll be sorry to bid farewell to the rains. But I'll be looking forward to capturing the cold, dark, dreary winter light, which we experience in Chandigarh from late November to early February.
I look at life merely in terms of what light the coming season will bring. I don't have the slightest interest left in the hurly-burlies of the human race. Banishing newspapers and television from my imagination has been the most exhilarating and liberating experience of the life I have led in the 21st century.
Gerry_the_Merry
Well-Known Member
Ken Rockwell has good iPhone apps, and plenty of practical experience. But he can put off people who like to complicate matters.
ajay124
Well-Known Member
I don't believe in god. Instead I believe in Art. What people seek from religion, I find in Art. Like religion, Art has multiple gods. The god of cinema, of visual poetry, of viewing life through a camera is Andrei Tarkovsky. No film maker has captured the essence of life as well as he did. I have almost completely stopped watching films, because I tend to compare every film with Andrei Rublev, Mirror, Ivan's Childhood, Stalker, Solaris, Nostalghia and Sacrifice. And most films fail the test.
Tarkovsky's square - Nostalghia (1983) - YouTube
The sub titles are in Russian, but it does not really matter. Cinema is primarily a visual medium. The image should be able to talk in many tongues. A plot or a story? Completely unnecessary. Cinema, like life, does not require a plot or a story. Life is a series of random events connected by chance and absurdity. Personally, I prefer cinema which reflects this randomness and absurdity.
Tarkovsky's square - Nostalghia (1983) - YouTube
The sub titles are in Russian, but it does not really matter. Cinema is primarily a visual medium. The image should be able to talk in many tongues. A plot or a story? Completely unnecessary. Cinema, like life, does not require a plot or a story. Life is a series of random events connected by chance and absurdity. Personally, I prefer cinema which reflects this randomness and absurdity.
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ajay124
Well-Known Member
I believe in something always, compose the shot/frame in your mind 1st. Billowing clouds can be a downer for an amateur photographer at times. Not every shot of the dark grey/blue skies can be captured well as seen by the naked eye. A few of my shots
That said, am not a professional photographer it's just a hobby.
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ajay124
Well-Known Member
rjstyles
Beautiful pics. Especially the third one. Did you use filters for this pic?
Beautiful pics. Especially the third one. Did you use filters for this pic?
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